Easy Creamy Gnocchi Sauce Recipe

Certain to be a family favorite, this creamy gnocchi sauce recipe is a fusion of rich mascarpone, fragrant shallot, and robust garlic cloves, simmered together with heavy cream, cheese, and pillowy gnocchi for a quick and easy meal.

I find that it’s really helpful to have some last-minute, super quick dinner recipes in my back pocket. Particularly for those days when life happens and we find ourselves in the early evening wondering if it’s acceptable to serve eggs for the second time that day. 

While breakfast for dinner is wonderful – and honestly one of my kids’ favorite dinners – this creamy gnocchi sauce makes for a breezy 15-minute dinner option.

From start to finish, it’s ready to serve in almost as much time as it takes to set the table and gather the family.

Plus, for as quick as it is, it’s such a cozy and satisfying dish. The kids love it, too.

I love to serve it with a garden fresh salad or a chunk of buttered sourdough – whichever I have on hand.

On the other hand, this is also a fantastic recipe for dinner guests. I like to put together my homemade potato gnocchi and crisp up fresh Italian sausage with the shallots.

Served with sourdough garlic bread, it’s a comfort food and a crowd-pleaser.

What is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi (pronounced n(y)oh-kee) are small potato dumplings originating from Italy. They are made similarly to traditional pasta but with a heavy emphasis on the addition of mashed potatoes with a cute little dumpling shape. 

While you might expect them to be dense or heavy, they are often described as pillowy and fluffy, which is very accurate. Gnocchi are tender, neutral in flavor, and served in many different ways. 

Traditionally, gnocchi are served with a light sauce of brown butter and fresh sage. 

Gnocchi are easy enough to make from scratch, but you can also find them in the grocery store pasta aisle – refrigerated or shelf-stable. While they are typically made from white potatoes, like russet, there are also sweet potato options for gnocchi.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Simple but elegant: Gnocchi pasta feels so fancy, especially in this velvety sauce, but it’s quick enough for a busy weeknight meal. I love that it is a simple recipe with only eight simple ingredients – plus salt and pepper.

Adaptable: This recipe is welcoming of your creativity! Add a protein or fresh herbs or veggies to make it your own.

Delicious: It’s creamy, savory, and bursting with flavorful, fluffy pillows of gnocchi. This is a great recipe for kids or adults, for weeknights or special occasions.

Tips 

• To make it a little different, toss in fresh spinach, fresh herbs, and diced or sun-dried tomatoes for added color and flavor. Sauté sliced mushrooms with the shallots for the mushroom lovers. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes to spice it up, or a splash of lemon juice to brighten.
• This is a great meatless option meal that is still very filling and satisfying. However, if you want to bulk it up and add more protein, sauté some Italian sausage with the shallots in the beginning or add sliced, grilled chicken with the gnocchi at the end.
• Sometimes the cream-based sauces will thicken too much while waiting to serve, as the gnocchi continues to absorb the liquids. If this happens, simply add a splash of heavy cream to thin it out before serving.
• Use gluten-free gnocchi for an easy gluten-free meal option.

Ingredients

Butter – Salted butter, or you could substitute olive oil.

Garlic – Freshly minced cloves, or you can substitute with garlic powder if needed.

Shallot – Finely diced and sautéed in butter, shallot is like the elegant cousin of the onion.

Heavy cream – A generous dose of heavy cream makes this recipe rich and velvety.

Mascarpone – Mascarpone adds richness and is a foundational ingredient for this creamy sauce. 

Shredded Gruyere – Freshly grated gruyere has a creamy, nutty flavor, reminiscent of Swiss.

Grated Parmesan – Freshly grated works best for its sharper flavor and better texture.

Salt – We like to use sea salt.

Pepper – Black pepper, freshly ground, is such a nice addition.

Gnocchi – You can use my homemade gnocchi recipe or store-bought gnocchi. They will be boiled while we make the sauce.

How to Make Creamy Gnocchi Sauce

Begin by setting a large pot of salted water to boil. This will be for cooking the gnocchi, which will be added to the sauce immediately after. While waiting for the water to boil, move on to the sauce preparation.

‌Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced shallot and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Keep it moving with a spatula. Browned butter is great, but burned butter happens pretty quickly and isn’t easy to recover from.

Add the minced garlic to the shallots and continue to sauté for another minute or so, until the garlic is fragrant.

Whisk heavy cream into the skillet in a steady stream, then spoon in the mascarpone and stir until smooth. 

Add salt and pepper, then reduce the temperature to low and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes more.

Remove from the heat and add your gruyere and parmesan cheeses, whisking until they are fully melted and incorporated. Taste test and adjust the salt and pepper, as needed.

Add gnocchi to the boiling water and cook until the gnocchi floats to the top (or according to the package directions).

With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked gnocchi to the sauce. Stir to combine, coating the gnocchi fully. 

Garnish with more grated parmesan and black pepper, and serve immediately.

Storage

Gnocchi with cream sauce is best enjoyed immediately after it is prepared, but it can also be refrigerated for several days in an airtight container.

Reheat in a pan over low heat, adding more cream, milk, or a splash of chicken broth to loosen it up. Reheating multiple times may result in mushy gnocchi.

FAQ

Find more farmhouse dinner recipes here:

• Homemade Spinach Pie
• Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
• Shepherd’s Pie from Scratch
• Greek Chicken with Orzo Pasta
• Round Steak with Onions and Mushrooms

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone

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